Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-25

va southern railroad, but made con-
siderable money during the war, IL is
understood, by blockade-runniug He
settled in business in Nashville after the
war, but came to New York five or six
years ago and engaged in cotton and
gram operations as well as banking.
Another daughter married son of Cen
eral Van Allen. The family mover recog-
nized the marriage the descendants of
the successful pelt-dealer regarded the
marriage with the son of a man who
had fought in the civil war and won the
rank OF brigadicr-general as a mcsalli-
ance. When the daughter died "Bill ."
Aston, as he is dubbed in Florida, sent y
message TO his repudiated son-in-law
asking II he could be OF any ser
vice. The answer WAS, "NO; you are
too late" A more hideous, moro dis
gusting exhibition OF purse. proud snob-
berry carried TO the very verge of the
grave hos probably never been seen in
this snob-ridden town. The fat-witted
millionaire father. more at home in q
stable than in a drawing room, and the
naughty spirited mother sitting in their
palace on Fifth avenue and sending such
a hidcously-silly message to the house Of
the dead instead Of personally going TO
make whatever amends death had left
them the power to make. The case was
the more pitiful because all the daughters
are justly esteemed for many grsces of
mind and heart not TO mention personal
attractions generally recognized.
William Astor's only son is "Jsck I"
Astor a youth Of twenty-one, inst out Of
college, who may possibly know enough
TO get in ont OF a thunder-shower,
though this is open to serious question.
At college Jack Astor was dubbed "Jack-
ass" an anagram borrowed from his
name and perhaps open to the objection
OF twltting upon facts.
William Waldo Astor, late Minister to
Italy and o son of John Jacob Astor, is
the most cultivated member of the
family. He has literary aspirations, and
has written several books. He was a
candidate for Congress several years ago.
but was badly defeated. He went around
among the liquor saloons on the East
Side, treating all the bar-room loafers
and leaving $50 gold-pieces to treat
other bar-roOm hNjiiucs. But the Jingle
of his coin was the knell OF his congress
sional hopes. for he brought out the idea
of bargain and sale too plainly, and even
the loafers would not vote for a man
who thought he could buy them up like
cattle.
This is only a hurried glance Mt a
/ family that assumes to lead New York
society. It's only claim to leadership is
the possession OF colossal wealth.
NOVELTIES N CLUB LIFE.
The Drawing Room Climb is a novelty
in the club line that has just procured a
charter preliminary to its blossOming ont
in this city. Its novel feature is that
both sexes are equally eligible to mem
/ bership in it, and minor feature is its
T object. which is to promote culture, dis
countenance vanity, have social re-
unions, and raise library and art gal
lery. Among It's founders are a number
/ Of ladies' and gentlemen well known in
| our cultured circles. The growth and
working of this heightened club will be
watched with interest.
in some respects it bears a resem-
blance TO the famous Nineteenth-Cen-
fury Club, which has been in existence
for some years, but which is 2 private
enterprise. and has always until lately
held its periodical symposums in the
house of its millionaire founder. This
club has a membership of both sexes,
aud il offers a free forum for the debate
of burning questions but Mr.. Palmer
has never tried to make 1t such an insti-
tuition as the Drawing-Room Club aims
TO become. nor have its female members
ever played any such part in It's man
agement as is to be played by those III
the new venture.
The Twilight Club Of this city Occa-
sionally holds entertainments at which
the fair sex are invited to participate in
the feast and the flow of reason ; but
the members aver that such occasions
are totally unlike those at which the
smoking and drinking gender enjoys
itself by itself III the Lotos and Union
League Clubs also, once in n while, there
is a Ladies Day" when the gentle
sex is allowed TO get glimpse into the
mysterious precincts OF clubdom; but
this is merely an incident OF n day which
has no relation to the course OF things
all the year round.
AN INNOVATION.
But no innovation upon the old
fashioned ways Of regular cubdom has
created such interest as that just reported
from Philadelphia. One of the high
toned clubs there has set apart quarteIs
in its establishment for the service Of the
wives Of its members. These ladies are
permitted 10 make the clubhouse aplaco
Of rendezvous where they can meet their
husbands. and If it be 30 desired take
dinner with them. Here, Tor example,
is a married member of the club dwell
ING in the suburbs and doing business III
the CITY who desires to 60 TO theatre or
prayer.meetiug his wife drives from
her home to the club. and he
wends his way from his pl.0e of bnsi.
ness to the club, whore t..r line and
are ready for duty elsewhc.. any one
can see how convenient the innovation Is
for all parties. And this startling nov
city. with all that It implies, originated
in the staid city of Philadelphia, and IN
one of its swell clubs. The reports OF 1t
have proved quite entertaining 10 the
ancient and saturnipe war. horses OF club
dom in New York. Yet If the thing
works well and properly we shall doubt
less after awhile see 1t tined here. And
then and thus many people can enjoy SO
cial intercourse and agreeable company
nj table with far less expense and trouble
than it could be procured at their own
houses. This is the favorable view OF
the Philadelphia novelty IN club life.
ABOUT PIANOS.
At least once in the course OF every
mans life be feels cclled upon to can
yass the matter OF buying musical III
strnment. The city nan Is naturally IN
clined to the piano, the country man is
divided between the piano and the organ,
and the organ usually wiDs on account OF
its lower price. 1t does not follow that
every man confronted with this problem
solves it 10y making n purchase, but a
great many of them do, and OF
these the majority are sorely puz-
zled as to what piano they ought to
buy and how much they ought to
pay for it. 1 suppose my advice has
been asked on this matter more times